Monday, April 17, 2017

Easter/epiphany

For all its importance, Easter in the New Testament is treated more as a
challenge to Christ's followers than the challenge to nature and the
intellect that it is. There are several descriptions than vary
considerably; in one the confused followers find a empty tomb with some
linen fallen underfoot, some strangely, neatly folded. But in most the
empty tomb is mediated by some extraordinary event or individual,
earthquake or angel. Then the story seems to go into suspended
animation. There is no cataclysmic epiphany. The realization is
gradual--in typical biblical cosmic humor, the first witness are not
even legal witnesses as they are women. Christ's astonishing miracle is
made clear and defined slowly to various individuals, one at a time.
As befits a collision of the physical and the spiritual which results in a new supernatural order.